It is led by CEO Laurence Zimmerman and Senior Consultant for Telecom Jack Grubman and is committed to unlocking and repurposing “underutilized” broadcast Spectrum for wireless connectivity — in particular 6G expansion.
That is why the company, Landover Saturn 5, has submitted a Request for Rulemaking with the FCC to permit “the repurposing of UHF channels 28-36 for flexible 5G/6G broadband use.”
In a 22-page filing made last week, the lower Manhattan-based Landover Saturn 5 argues, “Low-band spectrum provides the essential coverage layer for these technologies because of its superior propagation characteristics, indoor penetration, and ability to support wide-area connectivity with fewer network sites. Yet despite rapidly growing demand, the supply of low-band spectrum available for flexible wireless use remains limited.”
At the same time, it adds, “valuable spectrum within the UHF broadcast band remains underutilized as the economics of traditional over-the-air broadcasting continue to decline in the face of significantly reduced linear advertising revenue, cord-cutting, and migration to streaming platforms.”
That’s why Landover Saturn 5 LLC wants the Commission to initiate a rulemaking to permit
the repurposing of UHF Channels 28–36 (554–608 MHz) into a contiguous nationwide block of low-band spectrum for flexible 5G and future 6G use.
“Clearing these nine channels would create approximately 50 MHz of usable spectrum representing 17 billion MHz-POPs nationwide, providing a critical new coverage layer for next-generation wireless networks,” the company contends.
How would this spectrum repurposing effort be conducted? The initiative would be implemented through a public-private partnership that leverages private capital and expertise rather than federal funding, Landover Saturn 5 proposes.
“Landover would serve as a neutral sponsor responsible for coordinating broadcaster participation, managing spectrum clearing and repacking below Channel 28, and implementing the monetization of the repurposed spectrum, subject to Commission oversight,” it proposes. “This approach allows the repurposing to be completed more quickly and efficiently than a traditional FCC-managed auction and repack process.”
A two-to-three year timeframe is proposed for such an endeavour and would return $15 billion at minimum to the United States Treasury — exceeding the net fiscal return of Auction 1001 twofold. the company believes.
And thanks to ATSC 3.0, Landover contends, “Participating broadcasters would voluntarily monetize underutilized spectrum in Channels 28 to 36 while continuing to deliver their broadcast signals through channel sharing below Channel 28. This approach enables Broadcasters to convert undermonetized spectrum assets into capital at a time when industry revenues are under significant pressure, while preserving service to the public viewers and communities.”
With that, Landover assumes approving its proposal “would unlock a significant new block of low-band spectrum, accelerate next-generation wireless deployment, preserve broadcast services, and generate substantial fiscal benefits for the American public.”
To review the proposal in full, please click here.
